Transportation assembly



April 12, 1949.

J. LL'EV'ANS ET AL TRANSPORTATION ASSEMBLY 5Sheets-Sheec 1 Filed May 13, 1946 INVENTOR. Jbhn L. Evans, BY Tom Busch,

' ATTORNEY.

April 12; 1949.

Filed May 13, 1946 J. L. EVANS ET AL TRANSPORTATION ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORJ JhnllEvans Tom A/Busch;

ATTOFI'NEY.

April 12, 1949. J. L. EVANS ET AL TRANSPORTATION ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May l3, 1946 ATTOFIN EY.

April 12, 1949. J. EVANS ETAL 2,466,938

TRANSPORTATION ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 1s, 1946 INVENTOR, L. Eva ms,

ATT'OHNEY.

Jbhn y 70% MBZZSCh/ April 12, 1949. 4 J. L. Evms ETAL 2,466,938 TRANSPORTATION ASSEMBLY Filed May 13, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dial 2 13 54 v INVENTORJ, Jain o L-Evans,

y T 0 m MEN/501V, WM,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 12, 1949 UNITED STATE FATENT ()FFICE.

10 Claims. 1

Our invention has for its objects to provide means: to reduce thecost of equipment, reduce expensein transportation, eliminate the necessity: of keeping equipment idle for considerable periods of time while loading and unloading, and

enable a tractor to be used continually in pulling loads from loading places to delivery places.

Other objects will inpart be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid. objects and ends, invention resides in the novel details of construction, combinations and arrangement of parts, which'wi'll. hereinafter be first fully described and then be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1' is a top plan view of the rear portion of an apparatus embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the fore part of the same, a portion of a towing tractor being indicated in position for towing the apparatus.

Fig. 3- is a central vertical longitudinal section of the frame, cribbed or rack unit, the detachable wheeled axle-unit being shown in dotted lines and the portion of the tractor also being shown in dotted lines, the sectionbeing taken on the lines 3- 3 of Figs. 1 and 2 and being drawn on a smaller scale.

Fig. 4 is a schematic side elevation of the detachable wheeled axle unit being towed by a tractOI';

Fig. 5 is a detail front elevation of the front standard.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the'same.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevation of a hinge joint between the fixed and movable standard posts.

Fig; 8* is a section on the 1ine-88- of Fig. '7'.

Fig. 9 is a detail cross section, on a larger scale, on the line 9-9' of 3.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal section on the. line |0'lll of Fig 1.

Fig. 11' is: a cross section on the line ll-Il of'Fig; 10..

Fig. I2. is an enlarged inverted plan View of oneoithe automatic locking, devices carried by and forming; a, part of the detachable wheeled axle- Fig. 13 is. a. longitudinal section of the sameon theline l 3-.-l:3 of Fig; 12.

Fig. 14 15. across, section on the line I l-44 of Fig; 15-,is a detail side-elevation of one ,oi'the landin gearlifts.

ill

Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the parts-shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of one of the stiif legs.

Fig. 18 is a vertical section on the line I8- I8 of Fig. 1'7.

In its generic aspect the invention comprises two units which, when used independently, have separate functions andare capable of beingcom bined to function as a single unit. The first unit sary, equipped with proper lights and brakes (hereinafter referred to as the detachable Wheeled axle unit) Provisions are made so that the detachable wheeled axle unit can be attached to the frame by means Of two semi-automatic aligning" and locking devices which fix the axle and whe'elsin proper relation with the frame as to position and I alignment, thus combining the two units into a single unit that can be compared to the conventional semi-trailer and used as such where connected behind a truck or tractor by meansofa a conventional fifth wheel and king pin.

The frame is equipped with a set of legs near each end for the purpose of supporting the frame: in a position for easy removal and replacement.

of the detachable wheeled axle unit and" the" The legs can be retracted. when. the

tractor. frame is in a mobile condition.

Having thus given a brief outline of the: units comprising the present invention. for a more/detailed description of the same reference is now madeto the accompanying drawings in which like":

numerals and letters of reference indicate :like parts in all the figures;

In Fig. 4, the tractor, T, has its frame I provided with a towing hook 2 and the usual wheel 3 of any suitable and approved type.

The, detachable wheeled axle unitD is. shown int Fig. 4 as coupled. to the tractorfor'transportation. purposes as will later more fully appear. The:

construction of the. unit. D is best illu'strate'd 'in Figs. 1, 12, 13, and 14 by reference to which it-will be seen that the axle: 23 is provided witlrsuitably tired wheels 24, and brake drums 25. At a suit--- able distance apart on the axle 231there arezfiired fl two semieautomatic aligning: and lockingjxdevibest- (right and left) Each such aligning andlookin'g device comprises a face plate 4, side plates 5, an end plate 8, a base plate I (welded or otherwise secured to the face plate 4), a bridge plate 8, a compression spring 9, a sliding yoke ill, a pair of locking jaws l, jaw pivot studs or pins l3, with cotter pins l2, a release lever l8, pivoted at l9 to the yoke l8 and at I! to a link H! which in turn is pivoted on a pin I6 to a bracket l5 fixed to the end plate 6 and a side plate 5. The locking jaws l have flared entrance parts I and a king-type pin receiving portion I I. The end plate 6 has a slot through which the lever I8 projects. The slot 20 has a shoulder 2| to hold the lever l8 in the released position to free the jaws I Each side wall 5 has a recess 22 to fit the axle 23. to which the walls 5 are welded securely. Also securely welded to the axle 23 are bifurcated brackets 28 between the furcations of which the separated parallel ends 2'! of draft appliance bars are pivoted as at 32. The draft bars converge, as at 28, and terminate in parallel adjacent end portions 29 that are securely fastened to a draft rod or bar 3|! having an eye 3| to hitch to the hook 2 of a tractor when the wheeled axle unit is to be disconnected from, towed, or connected to the frame unit F.

' A sliding latch 33 is mounted at 35 on each portion 28 of the draft appliance so as to be capable of cooperating with the fixed couplingpin carrying plates 8'! of the frame unit, suitable back stops 34 being provided to keep the bolts from becoming lost. A brace bar 39 connects the elements 21 together.

. When the detachable wheeled axle unit is connected to the tractor for removal from the frame unit and for towing the draft appliance is lowered until the latches can be placed beneath the plates 8! (see Figs. 1 and 10).

When the units are connected to act as one the draft appliance is raised until the latches can be placed over the plates and hold the pivoted member elevated.

Mounted on the axle 23 is an electric brake coupling socket 36 from which power lines 38 lead to the brake drums 25.

Theframe unit comprises parallel side longitudinal beams 4'8 and 4|, the pair of beams 48 being elevated above the pair 4| and being located at the fore part of the frame, thus forming two sub-frames. The fore sub-frame includes the parallel side beams 48 and the cross beams 42, 43, 44 and 45 rigidly secured together. A bed plate 64 is secured beneath and to the sub-frame and carries a king pin 66 for coupling to the fifth wheel 3 of a truck or tractor T. The plate 84 has a projecting turned up front end to facilitate coupling operations.

The main sub-frame includes the side beams 41 the cross beams 48, 41 and 48 and the trusses composed of the longitudinal bars 58, the truss posts 5| and the cross beams 52. Brackets 49 having bevelled corners 49* to pass brake and light wiring may also be provided in the channels of the beams 4|.

Inverted angle bars are secured (by welding or otherwise) to the top edges of the beams 40 and 4| to present sharp edges to logs or other loads which might tend to slip sidewise of the frame.

The rear end of the fore sub-frame is joined to'the front end. of the main sub-frame by a vertical cross plate 54 and side plates 55. to each side plate 55 is the mounting plate 58 of a landing gear which includes a fixed section 51 and a telescopic section 58 to which telescopic section a foot 59 is pivoted so that when not in use. it

Secured may be inverted and folded against the fixed section when the telescopic section is raised. The landing gear may be of the well known screwja-ck type and includes also, the operating shaft 68 (common to both landing gears) and to which a crank 6| can be attached for operating purposes (see dotted lines Fig. 16). The fixed sections of the landing gears on opposite sides of the frame are connected together by a brace rod 63 and said sections are further supported by braces 62 (see Figs. 3 and 15).

At the front end the sub-frame 40 carries front standards comprised of side beams or posts each consisting of a fixed lower part 6! and a hinged (72) upper part 1|, best shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. The upper and lower parts H, 61 are rule-jointed as at 12. The post parts 8'! are cross braced as at 69 and the post parts H are cross connected by a detachable rod 13. The posts 61 are further braced as at 68, and ill.

A similar standard assembly composed of fixed post sections 9| and hinged post sections 92, braces 94 and rod 95 etc. may be provided at the rear end of the frame, in which event arched brace beams 93 connect the frame beams 4| and lower post sections 9| together. Brace plates 96 may also be used if necessary.

Toward the rear of the frame F there is pivoted at TI to each side beam 4|, a stifi leg composed of two side channel irons l4 spaced apart and connected at the back edges by a plate '55. forming plates 16 are securely welded or otherwise fastened to the channel irons l4 and spaced apart by a plate 18. The pivots 71 pass through the hinge plates iii.

A foot angle 19 is welded to the lower ends of the inner channel irons 14 and join the two legs together to move about a common axis (hinge pins 11). Short extension angles 88 are welded to the lower ends of the outer angles 14 and are braced therefrom as at 8|. The stiff legs may be raised and lowered by a winch shaft 83 and cables 84, a ratchet and pawl device 85 being provided to hold the said legs up when not in use. A crank 86 is used to turn the shaft 83. Instead of the winch, or in addition thereto the legs may have pin holes 82 through which and the spaces :0 in the truss hold up rods may be passed to hold the legs up when not in use. i

To the rear of the stiff legs, coupling-pincarrying plates 81 are secured to the beams 4| and to the cross I-beam 48 and carry the coupling pins 88 for the detachable wheeled axle unit.

Braking (and lighting when desired) power is transmitted from the tractor T from the front coupling socket member 98 via a cable or cables 89 and connecting plug 31, to the detachable wheeled axle unit when the unit and tractor are coupled to the frame (see Figs. 1 and 2).

Pivoted safety catches 91 are provided to drop down behind the end plates 6 to prevent accidental disconnection of the wheeled axle unit.

The detachable wheeled axle assembly is provided with the draw bar or tongue thus making it possible to connect this unit direct to the tractor for the purpose of transporting it from one place to another independent of the frame and for installing the .detachable wheeled axle unit- It is intended that the detacheasily installed under any of several frames, thus making it possible for one frame to be in transit with the detachable wheeled axle while other Hinge enemas:

Further savingswill" result from. thefact that.

only onetrailercombination needbe licensed. Nolicense -i's required for extra frames, for the wheeled aide-assembly will carry a license plate which will apply to any. frame being used. In caseswhere-it might be desirable or necessary to leave a frame for considerable length of time for loading or for other reasons, it couldbe done withoutundue risk, since the detachablewheeled axle assembly, which comprises the parts most vulnerable to-theft or damage, can be removed and used with other frames.

Under some hauling conditions considerable benefit is derived from the fact that the wheeled axle-is detachable and can be interchanged during a singlehaul which makes the equipment more adaptableto varying on and off the road hauling conditions.

The very fact that the wheeled axle assembly is detachable-and can be easily and quickly removed makes it possible to apply this feature-to additional uses where the presence of axle and wheel present a temporary problem. As an illustration: the'removalof the wheeled axle assembly makes it possible to lower the rear end of the frame to the, ground, thereby permitting the frame itself to be used as ramp for the purpose of loading and unloading heavy freight or machinery.

The provisionof the jack-type landing gear in combination with the stiff legs makes it possible to pivot the frame on the stiff legs to facilitate passage of the detachable wheeled axle unitunder the frame, and/ or the tractor under the frame. Assume that the frame F is coupled to a tractor at thefront of the frame and to a detachable wheeled axle assembly at the rear of theframe (see dotted linesFig. 3) and assume further that the stiff leg M andthe landing. gear 51, 58 are raised from the ground and the wheels 25 are resting on the ground. In this position the frame is drawn by the tractor to the place where-the frame is to be loaded; Upon arrival at that place the attendant lowers the stiff leg is untilthe foot thereof engages the ground; sufficient slack is left in the cable 84 so that the stiff leg may assume a position at right angles to the frame. Upon lowering the stiff leg to the ground the operator moves the tractor slightly forward, thereby causing the place of contact between the foot of the stiff leg and the ground to act as a fulcrum and cause the rear end of the frame to be lifted sufficiently to take the weight of the frame off the detachable wheeled axle assembly. The attendant then lowers the landing gear until the feet 59 thereof engage the ground. The tractor is then uncoupled from king pin 66 and moved around to the rear of the frame and coupled to the detachable wheeled axle unit (part 2 is coupled to part 3) The detachable wheeled axle unit is then unlatched from the frame and towed away (Fig. 4) to be attached to another standing frame that has been loaded. In attaching the detachable wheeled axle assembly unit to such another frame, the foregoing process is reversed. That is to: say,. the; detachable wheeled: axle nnit-is; first b'ackedsundentherear of the frameand coupledi to-the same... If in backing itshould appear-that; the rear: endx-ofzthe frame is too high ortoo low." a. topermit, easy coupling the height of the .rearendimay be adjustedby telescoping or extending;

the landing gear sections 58asthecase may be", using thestiff flegasa fulcrum.

After the: detachable wheeled axle unit has;- .been connected'to theframe, the tractor is uncoupled from that unit and moved around-to the front end of the frame where. it is thencoupled to the king pin. 68-. The landing gear is then The tractor is backed slightlyto break the rule joint. of the stiff: leg and leave that leg,

free to be elevated-.by'winding up the cable; 84:;

After the stiff leg has beenelevated theloaded:

frame'maythen'be towed'away. Upon arriving at the place where it is to be unloaded the tractor and the detachable wheeled axle unit are again disconnected from the frame in the manner hereinbefore described and the wheeled axle unit isa coupled'to the tractor and-returned to the starting place where it may be coupled". to another loaded frame, and so on.

The drawings illustrate our invention as applied to the hauling oflogs and cord wood, forpurposes of" illustration, it being obvious that.

other uses can befound for the frame unit.

From the foregoing description taken with the accompanying drawing it is thought the con-- struction, operation and advantages. of the invention will be clear to those skilledin the art;

What we claim is: 1. In combination, asemi-tra-iler frame having means at the front for coupling to the fifthwheel of a conventional tractor, awheeled axle unit,

means detachably connecting said unit to the rear portion of said frame, and meansuto support the framewhile said unit and the tractor are beingcoupled to and uncoupled from said frame and while the tractor and wheeled axleunit areapart from the frame, said last named means including a stiff leg pivoted to the frame beneath the same and adjacent one end ofthe frame and a vertically extensible leg rigidly mounted' on-and beneath the frame adjacent its other end and means for extending and retracting-said rigidly mounted-leg in a vertical direction.

2'. A semi-trailer type frame having a king pin at its frontend' located inthe mid-vertical longitudinal plane of the frame, for coupling to the fifth-wheel of a'tractor and=having a right and a left coupling pin at the rear end, a wheeled axle unit having a right and a left coupling device for cooperation respectively with said right and left coupling pins when engaged therewith to support the rear end of said frame, landing gear on said frame adjacent the front end of the same and stiff legs on said frame adjacent the rear end of said frame, said landing gear and said legs being located at positions between said king pin and said coupling pins.

3. A detachable wheeled axle unit for semitrailer frames comprising an axle with wheels, a right coupling unit and a left coupling unit secured to said axle and spaced apart, and a draft tongue coupled to said axle, each of said coupling units comprising a face plate having a coupling-pin-receiving slot, locking jaws mounted on said plate for cooperation with a coupling pin, a jaw-holding yoke, means continuously urging said yoke to close said jaws and hold same closed, and means to open said jaws at will.

4.. A semi-trailer frame having a king pin adjacent one end and right and left coupling-pincarrying plates secured to said frame adjacent the rear end of the frame; a detachable wheeled axle unit having a right and a left coupling device for cooperating with the coupling pins of the respective coupling-pin-carrying plates, said coupling devices each including a face plate to lie under and against the respective couplingpin-carrying plate aforesaid and pin-engaging coupling jaws mounted on said face plate, said face plate and said jaws having coupling pin entrances, and releasable means for holding said jaws closed in pin-holding position.

5. A semi-trailer frame having a king pin adjacent one end and right and left coupling-pincarrying plates secured to said frame adjacent the rear end of the frame; a detachable wheeled axle unit having a right and a left coupling device for cooperating with the coupling pins of the respective coupling-pin-carrying plates, said coupling devices each including a face plate to lie under and against the respective couplingpin-carrying plate aforesaid and pin-engaging coupling jaws mounted on said face plate, said face plate and said jaws having coupling pin entrances, and releasable means for holding said jaws closed in pin-holding position, and a draft tongue operatively secured to said axle.

6. A semi-trailer unit including a frame having a stepped-up front portion provided with a king pin for coupling to a tractor, and having right and left coupling-pin-carrying elements adjacent its rear end, stiif frame-supporting legs pivoted to the frame adjacent its rear end but in front of said coupling-pin-carrying elements, and retractable landing gear secured to the frame adjacent the front of the frame at the rear of said stepped-up portion, said landing gear having provision for moving the front end of said frame up and the rear end of the frame down and vice versa on said stiif legs as a fulcrum for purposes described.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein each stiff leg is pivoted to the frame with a rule joint which will break when the frame is pushed backward, and means to retain said legs in an inoperative position when desired.

8. In combination, a semi-trailer frame having means at the front end for coupling to the fifth Wheel of a conventional tractor, a detachable wheeled axle unit, means detachably connecting said unit to and beneath the rear portion of said frame, a stiff leg rule-jointedly connected to said frame adjacent the rear thereof and a jack-type landing gear mounted on said frame adjacent the front of the same.

9. In apparatus of the class described wherein a semi-trailer frame has provisions at its front end for coupling to a tractor and wherein a detachable wheeled axle unit is connected to and beneath the rear end of the frame, the improvement which comprises a stiff leg hingedly secured to and beneath the frame adjacent the rear of the same and a jack-type landing gear secured to and beneath the frame at the front of the same, means for raising and lowering said stiff leg, means for operating said jack-type landing gear, and means for limiting the lowered position of said stiff leg to a vertical position.

10. In apparatus of the class described wherein a semi-trailer frame has provisions at its front end for coupling to a tractor and wherein a detachable wheeled axle unit is connected to and beneath the rear end of the frame, the improvement which comprises a stiff leg hingedly secured to and beneath theframe adjacent the rear of the same and a jack-type landing gear secured to and beneath the frame at the front of the same, means for raising and lowering said stiff leg, means for operating said jack-type landing gear, and means for limiting the lowered position of said stiff leg to a vertical position, the hinge axis of said stiff leg, when the leg is in a vertical position, lying forward of the vertical axis of the leg.

JOHN L. EVANS. T. N. BUSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

